Like nearly all local educational agencies, Emery Unified School District students and families have struggled in the past decade with increased cost of living, diminishing social safety nets like food benefits and more. These factors outside the school walls have profound impacts on students in the classroom, which is why Emery USD established its Wellness and Health Department in 2016.
Located in a small pocket between Berkeley and Oakland, the three-school Emery USD serves approximately 600 students. Of those, a little more than 70 children currently receive direct individual and/or group services through the department, but every student engages in classroom presentations and workshops. In addition to providing mental health services on campus, the department works to link families with resources including food, internet, medical and rental assistance services.
CSBA Public Affairs and Community Engagement Representative Claudia Lopez-Lupercio spoke to Superintendent Quiauna Scott about the benefits experienced by the community and how Emery USD got the ball rolling. CSBA is recognizing the exceptional work of small districts through the Small Schools, Big Ideas blog series.
The following conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Can you briefly explain how the initiative works and why it was started?
It was started to better serve the behavioral and emotional needs of the students. Anyone — staff or parents/caregivers — can refer a student to the Wellness Department. We decide if the student is immediately connected to receive individual or group counseling, or if the student will be discussed in our coordinated care team meeting. In this meeting, which occurs once every month, we have all the support staff — nurse, afterschool coordinator, counselors and administrators — present to create a support plan for each student.
What short- and long-term outcomes would your district like to see among students who participate?
We would like to see improved academic performance, attendance, engagement in school activities and mental health outcomes.
What challenges has Emery USD experienced with the initiative and how did you overcome them?
Funding full-time clinicians can be costly, so we created an intern program to provide credit for graduate social work students while they complete their internship counseling hours in the Wellness Department.
How has the district benefited?
The intern program allows a much larger number of students to be served through the Wellness Department. The counseling interns not only provide individual and group therapy, but classroom presentations and case management with parents.
What are the plans for the initiative moving forward?
We plan to continue utilizing graduate social work students from nearby universities. I created a partnership with a local community-based mental health agency to offer counseling to students with higher needs that can allow for long-term support on campus.
What advice do you have for other small LEAs that want to establish an initiative like this?
Create partnerships with the local universities to create an intern counseling program. Also, create partnerships with a local community-based agency for their clinicians to work with students on site. Schools are where the kids are each day. It makes more sense for behavioral support programs to provide services on site rather than expecting caregivers to bring their children to outside agencies each week.
Who should other small LEAs contact with questions and/or to schedule a visit?
Deanna Yasaki, director of Student Support Services: Deanna.yasaki@emeryusd.org
